Data-bearing fabric

ABSTRACT

A fabric includes a plurality of open stitches and a plurality of closed stitches that cooperatively define a data-bearing section. The data-bearing section contains coded information associated with the fabric. In defining the data-bearing section, each of the open stitches and each of the closed stitches are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system. Each of the open stitches and the closed stitches is recognizable from a captured image of the data-bearing section based on image recognition technology. The coded information is extractable by identifying relative locations of the open stitches and the closed stitches in the data-bearing section, and applying the encoding system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 105101022, filed on Jan. 14, 2016.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a fabric, and more particularly to a data-bearing fabric.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, for a common fabric product (e.g., clothes), when it is intended to provide certain information of the fabric product (e.g., a material of the fabric product, a producer of the fabric product, a geographical location in which the fabric product is made, a price of the fabric product, etc.), a physical label containing such information may be attached to the fabric product. However, when the physical label becomes detached from the fabric product, the information would be lost. Additionally, it is possible for a third party selling counterfeit consumer goods to present incorrect information on the physical label, and to proceed to sell fabric products whose information is inconsistent with one on the physical label. For example, the incorrect information may mislead the customer into buying the counterfeit fabric products, thinking the counterfeit fabric products are authentic.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a fabric that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, the fabric includes a plurality of open stitches and a plurality of closed stitches, from which at least one portion of the fabric is knitted. The plurality of open stitches and the plurality of closed stitches cooperatively define a data-bearing section which serves as the at least one portion of the fabric.

The data-bearing section contains coded information that is associated with the fabric and that serves as an encoded string.

In defining the data-bearing section, each of the plurality of open stitches and each of the plurality of closed stitches are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system.

Each of the plurality of open stitches and the plurality of closed stitches is recognizable from a captured image of the data-bearing section based on image recognition technology, the coded information being extractable by identifying relative locations of the plurality of open stitches and the plurality of closed stitches in the data-bearing section, and by applying the encoding system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a fabric according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a data-hearing section of the fabric, according to one embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a part of the data-bearing section as shown in FIG. 2, constructed by open stitches and closed stitches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fabric 1 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. At least one portion of the fabric 1 is knitted from a plurality of open stitches 11 and a plurality of closed stitches 12, as depicted in FIG. 2.

Specifically, the fabric 1 includes a data-bearing section 13 that is cooperatively defined by the plurality of open stitches 11 and the plurality of closed stitches 12, and contains coded information that is associated with the fabric 1. The coded information may include one or more specific attribute of the fabric 1. For example, the attribute of the fabric 1 may include one or more of a material of the fabric, a producer of the fabric, a geographical location in which the fabric is made, a price of the fabric, a client ordering the fabric, a pattern design of the fabric, a color of the fabric, and a product which the fabric is used to produce.

In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the fabric 1 is a shirt and the data-bearing section 13 may be located near a neckline of the shirt.

The open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 may be arranged in one of a one-dimensional arrangement and a two-dimensional arrangement so as to define the data-bearing section 13. In this embodiment, the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 are arranged and linked together in the two-dimensional arrangement, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In defining the data-bearing section 13, an open stitch 11 and a closed stitch 12 are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system. In this embodiment, the encoding system is a binary code system, and the open stitch 11 may represent the symbol “0” and the closed stitch 12 may represent the symbol “1”. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the open stitch 11 may represent the symbol “1” and the closed stitch 12 may represent the symbol “0”. Using the above encoding system, information that is intended to be provided to the fabric 1 may be converted into coded information (e.g., binary data that is represented by two digits, ‘0’ and ‘1’), and multiple open stitches 11 and closed stitches 12 may be linked together to constitute an encoded string for representing the coded information.

In this embodiment, when it is intended to obtain the coded information from the data-bearing section 13, an image capturing device may be employed to capture an image containing the data-bearing section 13. Subsequently, a processor of an electronic device may be employed to recognize, from the captured image of the data-bearing section 13, each of the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 using image recognition technology.

Afterward, the processor may extract the coded information by identifying relative locations of the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 in the data-bearing section 13, and applying the encoding system (e.g., to replace an open stitch 11 by the symbol “0” and to replace a close stitch 12 by the symbol “1”).

As shown in FIG. 2, the data-bearing section 13 includes a boundary portion 131 and a data portion 132 surrounded by the boundary portion 131. In this embodiment, the boundary portion 131 includes a first ring constructed using the close stitches 12, and a second ring surrounding the first ring and constructed using the open stitches 11. In other embodiments, the first ring may be constructed using the open stitches 11, and the second ring may be constructed using the close stitches 12.

The data portion 132 includes one or more sub-sections, each including an encoded string representing a specific attribute of the fabric 1.

In this embodiment, eight sub-sections 133 to 140 are provided (see FIG. 2), each including one encoded string with a length of 8 bits (i.e., each encoded string contains one byte of data). It is noted that, since the amount of data each encoded string is able to carry is small, various attributes regarding the fabric 1 may be presented in encoded form (e.g., a number of materials may be encoded respectively by the letters “A”, “B”, “C”, etc.). The length of the encoded string may vary in other embodiments.

Specifically, the sub-section 133 includes one encoded string “01000001”, indicating that the material of the fabric 1 is one encoded as “A”. The sub-section 134 includes one encoded string “01000010”, indicating that the producer of the fabric 1 is one encoded as “B”. The sub-section 135 includes one encoded string “01000011”, indicating that the geographical location in which the fabric 1 is made is one encoded as “C”. The sub-section 136 includes one encoded string “11001100”, indicating that the price of the fabric 1 is NTD 204. The sub-section 137 includes one encoded string “01000010”, indicating that the client ordering the fabric 1 is one encoded as “B”. The sub-section 138 includes one encoded string “01000010”, indicating that the pattern of the fabric 1 is one encoded as “B”. The sub-section 139 includes one encoded string “01000001”, indicating that the color of the fabric 1 is one encoded as “A”. The sub-section 140 includes one encoded string “01000111”, indicating that the product which the fabric 1 is used to produce is one encoded as “G”.

In extracting the coded information by applying the encoding system, a lookup table may be provided for a user to obtain actual information (i.e., the various attributes of the fabric 1) from the encoded information. In one embodiment, the lookup table may be stored in a database of the electronic device to obtain the actual information automatically.

FIG. 3 illustrates an actual implementation of a portion of the sub-sections 133 to 136 constructed using the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12.

In some embodiments, the coded information may indicate other data formats, including one of a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code. For example, the one-dimensional code may be a barcode, and a number of the close stitches 12 in each encoded string of the data-bearing section 13 may be used to indicate a line/spacing with a particular width. In this way, the processor is capable of producing the barcode from the data-bearing section 13 for an optical reader to read.

Alternatively, the two-dimensional code may be a matrix barcode such as quick response (QR) code. As such, an open stitch 11 in the data-bearing section 13 may be used to indicate a blank (white) portion in the QR code and a close stitch 12 may be used to indicate a square dot (black) portion in the QR code. In this way, the processor is capable of producing the QR code from the data-bearing section 13 for an optical reader to read.

Some advantages of the embodiments are described below. Firstly, it is noted that each of the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 has a certain shape. As a result, even when the captured image is skewed or is upside down, the processor is capable of calibrating the captured image so as to obtain a calibrated image in a correct angle.

Additionally, each of the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 is relatively small in size, so the entire data-bearing section 13 may be constructed to contain the coded information with only a relatively small area required.

Moreover, a difference between the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 is not recognizable by human eyes, so the inclusion of the data-bearing section 13 does not affect the fabric 1 aesthetically, and the coded information cannot be obtained by directly looking at the data-bearing section 13.

To sum up, the disclosure provides a fabric 1 that includes the open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12, from which at least one portion of the fabric 1 is knitted. The open stitches 11 and the closed stitches 12 cooperatively define the data-bearing section 13 serving as the at least one portion of the fabric 1. As a result, the attributes of the fabric are knitted onto the fabric 1 in the form of the encoded information, and may be obtained by a processor analyzing a captured image of the data-bearing section 13.

This eliminates the need to employ a physical label attached to the fabric 1 for the purpose of presenting the attributes of the fabric 1, since the attributes of the fabric 1 maybe obtained as long as the data-bearing section 13, which is a portion of the fabric 1, exists. Furthermore, since contents of the data-bearing section 13 are encoded and physically knitted onto the fabric 1, it is relatively difficult for a counterfeiter to attempt to reproduce the data-bearing section 13.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fabric comprising a plurality of open stitches and a plurality of closed stitches from which at least one portion of said fabric is knitted, said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches cooperatively defining a data-bearing section which serves as said at least one portion of said fabric, wherein: said data-bearing section contains coded information that is associated with said fabric and that serves as an encoded string; in defining said data-bearing section, each of said plurality of open stitches and each of said plurality of closed stitches are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system; and each of said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches is recognizable from a captured image of said data-bearing section based on image recognition technology, the coded information being extractable by identifying relative locations of said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches in said data-bearing section, and by applying the encoding system.
 2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches are arranged and linked together so as to constitute said data-bearing section, the symbols constituting the encoded string.
 3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches are arranged in one of a one-dimensional arrangement and a two-dimensional arrangement so as to define said data-bearing section.
 4. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the encoding system is a binary code system, the coded information is obtainable using the binary code system, and each of said plurality of open stitches represents the symbol “0” and each of said plurality of closed stitches represents the symbol “1”.
 5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the encoding system is a binary code system, the coded information is obtainable using the binary code system, and each of said plurality of open stitches represents the symbol “1” and each of said plurality of closed stitches represents the symbol “0”.
 6. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the coded information indicates one of a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code.
 7. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said data-bearing section includes at least one sub-section representing a specific attribute of said fabric.
 8. The fabric of claim 7, wherein the attribute of said fabric includes one or more of a material of said fabric, a producer of said fabric, a geographical location in which said fabric is made, a price of said fabric, a client ordering said fabric, a pattern of said fabric, a color of said fabric, and a product which said fabric is used to produce.
 9. The fabric of claim 7, wherein said data-bearing section further includes a boundary portion that surrounds said at least one sub-section. 